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KAITIAKITANGA — CARING FOR AOTEAROA'S NATURAL WORLD
Environmental news for Aotearoa New Zealand — for DOC rangers, conservation practitioners, environmental scientists, and anyone who cares about this land.
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land & farming
Land use, farming practices, soil health, and the relationship between food production and environmental outcomes.
RSS ↗Hefty penalty for cutting down protected native trees
A businessman ordered to pay $7200 in reparation for cutting down protected native trees near Kaiteriteri without permission can now be named.
No rats! – “best news ever” for rare kākāriki karaka
If there’s one thing that makes a DOC ranger smile, it’s hearing there are no rats detected in a valley where a critically endangered species lives.
Celebrate Matariki in Puketī ngahere
Lights, laughter, learning and kai will fill Puketī ngahere on 9 July as a community Matariki celebration brings together culture, conservation and whānau.
$2m funding boost turbocharges Wasp Wipeout
Wasp control across visitor hotspots and priority biodiversity sites will double, backed by a $2 million International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy boost, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
Boost for predator control to protect endangered wildlife
Threatened native wildlife will get a reprieve from predators with a $14.1 million boost to predator control funding, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
Collaborative wild deer management plan to protect Ruahine Forest Park
A new collaborative approach to managing wild deer in Ruahine Forest Park aims to reduce pressure on native forests while recognising the important role hunters and local communities play in caring for this special place.
$10m to accelerate predator free in Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau
Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau is set to lead the next phase of Predator Free 2050, with a $10 million Government investment to expand predator elimination efforts across the region and develop new tools that can be used across New Zealand, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka and…
Entangled whale freed
A southern right whale / tohorā was freed from a blue cod pot line in a complex operation - the first time this species has been disentangled in New Zealand waters.
Smile for the camera! Using new tech to identify baby native fish
May 23rd is World Fish Migration Day – a worldwide celebration of free-flowing rivers and the life they support. We have some very special fish here in Aotearoa, and this year we’re literally shining a spotlight on five species of galaxiid that move between freshwater and the…
New stoat bait a 30-year journey for predator-free scientist
DOC scientist, Elaine Murphy, talks about a new bait she's developed to target stoats, and why she's a big believer in Predator Free 2050.
Smile for the camera! Using new tech to identify baby native fish
May 23rd is World Fish Migration Day – a worldwide celebration of free-flowing rivers and the life they support. We have some very special fish here in Aotearoa, and this year we’re literally shining a spotlight on five species of galaxiid that move between freshwater and the…
Fish go to great lengths in the Whanganui River
Native migratory fish have been detected nearly 300 km inland from the Whanganui River mouth in recent research aimed at guiding restoration of the river.
New concession granted for Stony Batter on Waiheke
DOC has granted Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki and Man O' War a concession to operate tours of the historic tunnels at Stony Batter.
New stoat sausage bait trial results impressive
A new sausage bait targeting stoats is shaping up to be a valuable tool to protect kiwi and other native wildlife after impressive results in field trials.
Ups and downs of rare forest bird revealed
A recent dip in mohua/yellowhead numbers in a remote South Westland forest shows how closely its fortunes are tied to predator control.
Peaks and pits of a six-week Maukahuka trip
Peaks and pits from a six-week trip working on various aspects of the Maukahuka / Auckland Island Restoration project.
Two Tongariro huts join booking system for winter naturing
Waihohonu and Mangatepopo huts in Tongariro National Park can now be booked for winter adventures, with each operating as a serviced hut until the next Great Walk season begins.
Charity helps DOC control wild deer in Te Pātaka-o-Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula reserves and feed whānau
Canterbury based charity Hunters4Hope is helping manage wild deer in DOC reserves on Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū/Banks Peninsula - with the venison going to those in need.
Law firm swaps pens for hammers and nails
A national law firm is helping catch predators – the four-legged kind – in a Conservation Week activity by building traps at work.
Pukunui population up 52 percent thanks to feral cat control
The pukunui/southern New Zealand dotterel population has recovered by 52 percent following a successful aerial predator control operation on Rakiura/Stewart Island.
The scales of Maukahuka.
On remote Maukahuka/Auckland Island, a small team navigates harsh terrain to service trail cameras and monitor biodiversity. Battling weather, scale, and isolation, they gather vital data to support pest eradication. New satellite technology is transforming conservation efforts,…
What it takes to find a feral cat on Auckland Island
One of our teams’ main objectives for being on Auckland Island is to understand more about feral cat behaviour around a novel predator bait.
Ballet dancers ‘go wild’ for Predator Free 2050
We’re launching a new Predator Free 2050 and Always Be Naturing video – Predator Free 2050: Let Nature Go Wild – that features the Royal New Zealand Ballet dancing in native species costumes. Check out korimako twirls, kiwi leaps, spider spins, and learn more about this playful…
Hunters on target at police, DOC forest checkpoint
DOC and NZ Police say they’re encouraged by the sensible behaviour, positive response and correct paperwork they encountered during a pre-Easter hunting compliance operation.
Rat detections on predator free island highlights importance of biosecurity network
A second rat incursion on predator free Ulva Island this year highlights the value of the island's strong biosecurity surveillance network.
Kapiti takes aim at 'possums of freshwater'
A Kapiti Coast catchment is well on the way to becoming free of koi carp, a noxious introduced fish that leaves a trail of destruction.
How one man did his bit to help make Otago Peninsula possum-free
When the Otago Peninsula was declared possum‑free, it marked a major milestone for the predator‑free movement and the communities who made it possible.
Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara to lead next phase of Predator Free 2050
Wellington Te Whanganui-a-Tara is set to become New Zealand’s first predator-free city, as the Government steps up the next phase of Predator Free 2050, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says.
DOC and Meridian Energy celebrate 10-years of powering Kākāpō Recovery
DOC and Meridian Energy have renewed a longstanding partnership supporting the world-leading Kākāpō Recovery Programme for a further three years.
Launching predator-free pilot in the Chatham Islands
A group of locals are mobilising 800 kilometres east of mainland Aotearoa, New Zealand, to protect hundreds of endangered species through Predator Free Chathams.
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